
Collaborate with us through applied industry research
Linking industry and academia to find innovative and enduring solutions for sustainability challenges across organisations.
Partner with us
Become a partner organisation
Through our Practitioner Doctorate in Sustainability PhD/EngD course, our academics and selected student will collaborate closely with your organisation to design a research project aimed at both resolving your issues and building yours and our knowledge.
How it works
We will work with your organisation using a rigorous selection procedure to engage a high calibre student from our centre with the right knowledge and skills for your project. This student, called a doctoral practitioner, will be based on your premises for an initial period of two years. Around the end of the first year, a thorough review will take place. Towards the end of the second year, you will consider whether to bring the project to a conclusion, if appropriate, or maintain the momentum by extending the engagement for a further 12 or 18 months, thus allowing the opportunity for the doctoral practitioner, who may well have become an integral part of your company, to be retained.
Before joining you, the doctoral practitioner is fast-tracked through an intensive 12 week training course here at the University to ensure that they are ready to commence work from day one. This is supplemented with a bespoke programme of on-going training, tailored to your needs, the project and the doctoral practitioner. We will work with you to set clearly defined milestones throughout the project and closely monitor progress to ensure that the agreed objectives are reached.
Get in contact
If you wish to discuss research opportunities with us or become a partnering organisation, please contact us:
- Email: pds@surrey.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)1483 689076.
How we've worked with industry
We took part in the first Drapers Sustainable Fashion Forum 2019. Our Dr Jaqi Lee spoke about how to move the fashion industry towards a more sustainable future. Hear from some of the most progressive fashion brands and retailers.
"The PDS programme has allowed Hampshire Hospitals to use research to help address the challenge of sustainability within a healthcare setting. As a valued member of the team, our doctoral practitioner has been able to fully embed within the organisation, allowing for a greater understanding of the organisational complexities as well as put forward considered initiatives that align with UK and global sustainable development goals."
Gillian Brown, Sustainability Manager, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustMeet our doctoral practitioners
Our new students have been on an intensive programme of academic, personal development and transferable skills training preparing for their move to industry.
We thank WWF, Wates Group, Heathrow, Aviva and WRAP for their collaboration and look forward to the industry based sustainability research that will have enduring value for these companies.
From left to right - Harry Russell, Laurence Cummins, Pete Hemmings, Joanna Trewern and Sarah Gray

2019’s conference theme was ‘how does my research contribute to enhance societal well-being delivered by my host organisation’. Each student presented a 3 minute thesis about their research project, with winners announced at the end of the conference.
Doctoral Practitioners discuss their real world research
Doctoral Practitioner, Alex Jiean Ling, discusses his applied research with Thames Water